"Maharashtra Agriculture Minister Pandurang Phundkar today said farmers in the state would have to use BT seeds for the Kharif season as non-BT seeds are not available in the market at present.
"We have directed agriculture universities and agriculture research centres to develop non- BT seeds. Presently, non-BT seeds are not available in market. As a result, farmers will have to use BT seeds with precaution for some time," he said.
Phundkar was addressing a meeting on management of pink bollworm infestation that had damaged cotton crop of farmers in Vidarbha and part of Marathwada regions recently.
The meeting discussed precautions to be taken while using BT seeds for sowing.
Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh told the meeting that workshops for welfare of farmers will be conducted across the country from May 2.
Phundkar said sufficient non-BT seeds would be made available to farmers in the next two years.
The minister later told reporters that around one lakh non-BT seed packets will be available for this Kharif season.